I've been hesitant to write further on this subject, but I've now been driving the Firebird for three days so I think it's alright to come out and say it's fixed. Didn't want to jinx it.
On Tuesday I ordered replacement bushings straight from a GM parts desk, and also retaining clips from the brake pedal. It took until Thursday for the bushings to come in, so I had to wait until Thursday evening to commence repairs.
I did have the proper replacement bushings, but since that's what broke in the first place I pursued the clip solution first. Getting to the end of the rod was an extremely tight fit, and I had to bend the clip slightly to get it on after many attempts (nicking up my arm pretty well in the process). Unfortunately, this meant once it was fitted it was not as tightly on as it could be. I went at it with pliers as best I could, but I had to convince myself this was sufficient. Though I was extremely wary at first, I successfully completed a shakedown cruise with no troubles, so I was able to roll into work on Friday with the Firebird.
05 July 2010
adventures in firebird ownership - the breakdown, pt. III
Today I was able to get to a more HELPFUL auto parts store. They ordered some bushing kits for me - it was the same part number I saw mentioned on 3rdgen.org, so all the better. They were supposed to call me when the parts showed up but they failed to - I had to go to the store myself.
I put the new part in. It felt solid this time. I drove around that parking lot, shifting constantly - no problems. Before I had only been able to get about three shifts in before it died. I went down the street to a big empty parking lot where I could break down safely and did some hard starts - still no issues! I then drove all the way around my neighborhood. Just as I turned back onto my street, the pedal gave out. I was stuck in neutral but I was on a downhill leading right into my apartment complex, so I was able to coast back to my parking spot.
When I looked at what had happened, I found the bushing itself was not broken but the master cylinder had still slipped off. The bushing is supposed to clip into a groove on the clutch pedal, but apparently didn't. I put the parts back together and tightened them with pliers so it would hold as best I could manage.
I drove out again, much more hesitantly.
I made it through the heaviest traffic, but as I was going up the back hill it broke again. There wasn't any place to turn off and I didn't have enough momentum to reach the top of the hill. I considered rolling the car back down the hill, but then a lady in a Camry pulled up right behind me. I was stuck where I was, so I put the flashers on, told her I couldn't move and got out in the street to conduct a field repair. A few harrowing minutes later it was back together - I was able to shift into first and limp home.
It now seems clear the generic replacement is not going to work. I'm not sure how to proceed though. I could order the exact part number online, but the place wanted $15.95 for shipping and handling which is insane for plastic mouse pelvises. That also isn't a guarantee it won't slip off again in the future. I might be able to use a clip like that found on the brake pedal - thank god THAT one won't fall off. I might be able to get these parts straight from a dealer, but they were closed today because of the holiday. The online forum also says the solution in the 4th-gen is more robust and salvaging those parts is a good idea. I don't know.
I put the new part in. It felt solid this time. I drove around that parking lot, shifting constantly - no problems. Before I had only been able to get about three shifts in before it died. I went down the street to a big empty parking lot where I could break down safely and did some hard starts - still no issues! I then drove all the way around my neighborhood. Just as I turned back onto my street, the pedal gave out. I was stuck in neutral but I was on a downhill leading right into my apartment complex, so I was able to coast back to my parking spot.
When I looked at what had happened, I found the bushing itself was not broken but the master cylinder had still slipped off. The bushing is supposed to clip into a groove on the clutch pedal, but apparently didn't. I put the parts back together and tightened them with pliers so it would hold as best I could manage.
I drove out again, much more hesitantly.
I made it through the heaviest traffic, but as I was going up the back hill it broke again. There wasn't any place to turn off and I didn't have enough momentum to reach the top of the hill. I considered rolling the car back down the hill, but then a lady in a Camry pulled up right behind me. I was stuck where I was, so I put the flashers on, told her I couldn't move and got out in the street to conduct a field repair. A few harrowing minutes later it was back together - I was able to shift into first and limp home.
It now seems clear the generic replacement is not going to work. I'm not sure how to proceed though. I could order the exact part number online, but the place wanted $15.95 for shipping and handling which is insane for plastic mouse pelvises. That also isn't a guarantee it won't slip off again in the future. I might be able to use a clip like that found on the brake pedal - thank god THAT one won't fall off. I might be able to get these parts straight from a dealer, but they were closed today because of the holiday. The online forum also says the solution in the 4th-gen is more robust and salvaging those parts is a good idea. I don't know.
03 July 2010
adventures in firebird ownership - the breakdown, pt. II
After a shower and some dinner, I went out to check up on the Firebird to determine what could be done next.
As I unscrewed the panel in the driver's side footwell, a broken zip-tie fell out. I poked around and found the clutch master cylinder link (and the replacement bushing), but could not determine where it attached to the clutch pedal until after I studied the diagrams in the manuals more thoroughly and brought a better flashlight out.
The replacement bushing didn't seem too bad, so I put it back on and fitted the pedal to the master cylinder. The bushing promptly broke again, with tab bits flying out. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I put it back on backwards, and it actually held! With this rigging I was able to move it from the dump spot into my usual parking space. I then tried my luck and drove around the entire parking lot, but just as I was finishing the circuit the pedal broke again. This time I was stuck in first, so I limped back to my parking space and stalled it there.
Tomorrow I will see if NAPA is open - I have had it happen before that these replacement parts on the shelves have been sitting there so long that the plastic gets brittle. It seems like a crappy component anyway so I will need the nicest crap I can get. At least it seems like I fully understand the issue now.
As I unscrewed the panel in the driver's side footwell, a broken zip-tie fell out. I poked around and found the clutch master cylinder link (and the replacement bushing), but could not determine where it attached to the clutch pedal until after I studied the diagrams in the manuals more thoroughly and brought a better flashlight out.
The replacement bushing didn't seem too bad, so I put it back on and fitted the pedal to the master cylinder. The bushing promptly broke again, with tab bits flying out. Figuring I had nothing to lose, I put it back on backwards, and it actually held! With this rigging I was able to move it from the dump spot into my usual parking space. I then tried my luck and drove around the entire parking lot, but just as I was finishing the circuit the pedal broke again. This time I was stuck in first, so I limped back to my parking space and stalled it there.
Tomorrow I will see if NAPA is open - I have had it happen before that these replacement parts on the shelves have been sitting there so long that the plastic gets brittle. It seems like a crappy component anyway so I will need the nicest crap I can get. At least it seems like I fully understand the issue now.
adventures in firebird ownership - the breakdown, pt. I
Then the clutch pedal stopped working.
The clutch gave out just as I was shifting from first to second while pulling away from a stoplight, leaving me stuck in neutral in the left lane. I had no power to the wheels so I had to coast to the left shoulder of the divided highway, though I couldn't get over too far off the road due to a dropoff. Someone that had been behind me expressed their opinion out the window as they drove past, but I didn't catch it. I don't imagine it was kind words.
As I was calling AAA, two gentlemen from a nearby Space Age filling station bicycled up and asked if there was anything they could do. I had to wave the spacemen on, explaning the clutch pedal was broken but thanking them for their concern.
My conversation with AAA went something like this:
AAA: Thank you for calling AAA roadside assistance, how can I help you?
Me: I could use a spot of roadside assistance.
AAA: What happened?
Me: My clutch pedal gave out and I had to pull over.
AAA: Are you in a safe location?
Me: Mmm...kinda.
AAA: Kinda?
Me: I'm on the left shoulder.
AAA dispatch lady decided that as I was causing trouble on the highway, I got priority status. Sure enough, the truck was there less than 5 minutes later. The AAA man tried messing around with the clutch pedal but it wasn't fixable on the embankment of a divided highway. As AAA man was loading the Firebird onto his truck, a 3rd-gen Camaro drove past in the other direction giving me a 'tsk tsk' finger waving. All I could do was shrug.
AAA man wanted to have another go at fixing the Firebird, so we pulled into a parking lot to get out of traffic. He fiddled around and found that the clutch pedal had broken free of the clutch master cylinder. I declined his offer to jury-rig it with a zip-tie and call it good, and decided to continue towing the Firebird home.
Further down the road, we happened upon a parts store that was still open. We decided to check it out on AAA man's suggestion. Parts man and AAA man were unable to find the replacement in the parts database, but we found it in a set of various bushings in one of the aisles. AAA man set about installing the replacement and I ate a Payday bar.
The replacement seemed to take, so AAA man unloaded the Firebird and I hopped in to drive it around the parking lot. I got a few gear changes out of it, but then the clutch pedal gave out again. We loaded the Firebird back up on the truck and took it home, dumping it in my apartment complex's lot. AAA man was dismayed that something he had repaired didn't work, but I assured him he had already gone above and beyond his duty.
With that, AAA man drove away, leaving me with a broken Firebird.
The clutch gave out just as I was shifting from first to second while pulling away from a stoplight, leaving me stuck in neutral in the left lane. I had no power to the wheels so I had to coast to the left shoulder of the divided highway, though I couldn't get over too far off the road due to a dropoff. Someone that had been behind me expressed their opinion out the window as they drove past, but I didn't catch it. I don't imagine it was kind words.
As I was calling AAA, two gentlemen from a nearby Space Age filling station bicycled up and asked if there was anything they could do. I had to wave the spacemen on, explaning the clutch pedal was broken but thanking them for their concern.
My conversation with AAA went something like this:
AAA: Thank you for calling AAA roadside assistance, how can I help you?
Me: I could use a spot of roadside assistance.
AAA: What happened?
Me: My clutch pedal gave out and I had to pull over.
AAA: Are you in a safe location?
Me: Mmm...kinda.
AAA: Kinda?
Me: I'm on the left shoulder.
AAA dispatch lady decided that as I was causing trouble on the highway, I got priority status. Sure enough, the truck was there less than 5 minutes later. The AAA man tried messing around with the clutch pedal but it wasn't fixable on the embankment of a divided highway. As AAA man was loading the Firebird onto his truck, a 3rd-gen Camaro drove past in the other direction giving me a 'tsk tsk' finger waving. All I could do was shrug.
AAA man wanted to have another go at fixing the Firebird, so we pulled into a parking lot to get out of traffic. He fiddled around and found that the clutch pedal had broken free of the clutch master cylinder. I declined his offer to jury-rig it with a zip-tie and call it good, and decided to continue towing the Firebird home.
Further down the road, we happened upon a parts store that was still open. We decided to check it out on AAA man's suggestion. Parts man and AAA man were unable to find the replacement in the parts database, but we found it in a set of various bushings in one of the aisles. AAA man set about installing the replacement and I ate a Payday bar.
The replacement seemed to take, so AAA man unloaded the Firebird and I hopped in to drive it around the parking lot. I got a few gear changes out of it, but then the clutch pedal gave out again. We loaded the Firebird back up on the truck and took it home, dumping it in my apartment complex's lot. AAA man was dismayed that something he had repaired didn't work, but I assured him he had already gone above and beyond his duty.
With that, AAA man drove away, leaving me with a broken Firebird.
adventures in firebird ownership - OCH and the U-Pull
Today is my first and last Saturday free for some time, so I decided to spend it getting outside and working on car stuff.
I started by checking the fluids, which seemed to be at good levels despite something continuing to burn even after I had the valve cover gaskets replaced. The oil was pretty dark though, and while I have been topping it off it hadn't been properly changed since September.
I decided to take the Firebird to Oil Can Henry's despite only needing the one point of their Famous 20-Point Oil Change Service. They apparently don't see many 3rd-gens there; one tech said the engine 'looks like the same V-8 in my truck' (I doubt it, being a V-6), and I had to point out to the other tech where the air filter was so he could check it. (It's a K&N lifetime filter. PSYCHE.) After changing the oil and topping off my 'clutch fluid' I was on my way.
Coworkers have made passing reference to a U-Pull parts yard on 99W out by Sherwood, and I figured it was worth a look. Ten months into ownership I am still plagued by door troubles, and I don't want to try fixing it until I've had a go somewhere else.
I paid my $2 to get in and lo and behold, there is a fresh 25th-anniversary Camaro right by the entrance. I set about destroying the door. It was filthy work, but I stripped it down as much as I could. I could now see how the interior door handle works but did not figure out how one was supposed to remove it. I removed it anyway. I could also see the infamous window gear that is missing teeth on my Firebird, but destroy as I could I was unable to reach it. I decided to abandon it for now, as even with my new working knowledge of the mechanisms holding the door together I do not think I can even get to the door handle without destroying the door.
With door handle in hand, I set off into the main area. The internet provided me with a list of all the 3rd-gens on the lot. However, unlike the 25th-anniversary these cars have seen better days. I was hoping to find better sun visors, but most of the cars have had their head liners removed. There was a Camaro that looked like it had started life as red and been painted metallic blue, like my Firebird. I was sad for it and tried to put the t-tops back in place to keep the rain out.
In the end, I did salvage a body piece from a '91 Firebird and some seat belt parts from a '90 Camaro. I tried to acquire an EGR solenoid as well, but couldn't figure out how to remove what I was assuming was it. I set off for home filthy and exhausted.
I had never actually been out to that section of 99W, but was pleased by what I found. Sherwood is just outside the conglomerate of cities in the Portland Metro Area and has some nice divided highways to and from it. I was able to open up a bit and let the Firebird do its thing.
Then the clutch pedal stopped working.
I started by checking the fluids, which seemed to be at good levels despite something continuing to burn even after I had the valve cover gaskets replaced. The oil was pretty dark though, and while I have been topping it off it hadn't been properly changed since September.
I decided to take the Firebird to Oil Can Henry's despite only needing the one point of their Famous 20-Point Oil Change Service. They apparently don't see many 3rd-gens there; one tech said the engine 'looks like the same V-8 in my truck' (I doubt it, being a V-6), and I had to point out to the other tech where the air filter was so he could check it. (It's a K&N lifetime filter. PSYCHE.) After changing the oil and topping off my 'clutch fluid' I was on my way.
Coworkers have made passing reference to a U-Pull parts yard on 99W out by Sherwood, and I figured it was worth a look. Ten months into ownership I am still plagued by door troubles, and I don't want to try fixing it until I've had a go somewhere else.
I paid my $2 to get in and lo and behold, there is a fresh 25th-anniversary Camaro right by the entrance. I set about destroying the door. It was filthy work, but I stripped it down as much as I could. I could now see how the interior door handle works but did not figure out how one was supposed to remove it. I removed it anyway. I could also see the infamous window gear that is missing teeth on my Firebird, but destroy as I could I was unable to reach it. I decided to abandon it for now, as even with my new working knowledge of the mechanisms holding the door together I do not think I can even get to the door handle without destroying the door.
With door handle in hand, I set off into the main area. The internet provided me with a list of all the 3rd-gens on the lot. However, unlike the 25th-anniversary these cars have seen better days. I was hoping to find better sun visors, but most of the cars have had their head liners removed. There was a Camaro that looked like it had started life as red and been painted metallic blue, like my Firebird. I was sad for it and tried to put the t-tops back in place to keep the rain out.
In the end, I did salvage a body piece from a '91 Firebird and some seat belt parts from a '90 Camaro. I tried to acquire an EGR solenoid as well, but couldn't figure out how to remove what I was assuming was it. I set off for home filthy and exhausted.
I had never actually been out to that section of 99W, but was pleased by what I found. Sherwood is just outside the conglomerate of cities in the Portland Metro Area and has some nice divided highways to and from it. I was able to open up a bit and let the Firebird do its thing.
Then the clutch pedal stopped working.
22 May 2010
freestyle parking
A local Wendy's has a stretch of parking lot with no lines. I think this is interesting because once somebody is parked there, everybody else seems to park in the same manner. Most people pull in perpendicularly. Today there was another guy who decided to parallel park there which puts a whole new spin on it. I always pull in at an angle because that section is really only ever approached from one direction, and I also like to mess with people. If I'm the first one there, incoming people tend to also park at an angle just because they see I did it. With enough people coming and going, this pattern I created could conceivably continue long after I've left.
13 February 2010
adventures in firebird ownership - the little things
I've been trying to spend a little time each weekend working on the Firebird. For the moment I am putting off fixing the bigger problems and have been tweaking annoying things.
I spent $75 on new lift supports for the hood and hatch from a man called Mr. Lou. I was concerned they wouldn't fit, but the real issue turned out to be the existing supports. The rear hatch was held in place by a massive TORX (star) bolt, on the order of what is used to hold seatbelts in place. The couple of TORX bits I had were nowhere large enough, and I couldn't get any torque just wedging a flathead in there. In the end I had to go to Home Depot and invest in new tools, but the end result is that all TORX bolts in the future are fair game. I am thrilled to be able to open the car up without wedging a big stick in somewhere.
I also ordered a t-top bag from eBay, which just arrived today. I think the previous owner spilled his beer on it. Fortunately I have some time to clean it up before nice weather returns.
Finally, I had the paperwork filled out several months ago but just yesterday I got around to submitting an application for custom plates. It's completely unnecessary but I think it will look good. I may have skipped a meeting called by a girl at work to go to the DMV instead.
I spent $75 on new lift supports for the hood and hatch from a man called Mr. Lou. I was concerned they wouldn't fit, but the real issue turned out to be the existing supports. The rear hatch was held in place by a massive TORX (star) bolt, on the order of what is used to hold seatbelts in place. The couple of TORX bits I had were nowhere large enough, and I couldn't get any torque just wedging a flathead in there. In the end I had to go to Home Depot and invest in new tools, but the end result is that all TORX bolts in the future are fair game. I am thrilled to be able to open the car up without wedging a big stick in somewhere.
I also ordered a t-top bag from eBay, which just arrived today. I think the previous owner spilled his beer on it. Fortunately I have some time to clean it up before nice weather returns.
Finally, I had the paperwork filled out several months ago but just yesterday I got around to submitting an application for custom plates. It's completely unnecessary but I think it will look good. I may have skipped a meeting called by a girl at work to go to the DMV instead.
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